15th Poznań Uhlans Regiment
Encyclopedia
15th Poznań Uhlans Regiment – unit of Polish cavalry
, part of Greater Polands Army
, Polish Army of Second Republic
and Polish Armed Forces in the West
during World War II
.
society Ognisko Żołnierza Polskiego. The regiment received the colours from the hands of Gen. Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki
in Poznań on 29 July 1919. Despite the fact that Colours were irregular to Polish Army military code, the standard was used for all the time of the regiment's existence during the interbellum. During the occupation, the standard was kept in the Visitationist Church
in Warsaw. The nuns, after the assassination of Franz Kutschera
, cut off the image of the Holy Mother and burned the rest of standard. The standard was reconstructed, with usage of parts of previous colours in 1960. Currently the Standard is kept in Greater Polands Military Museum in Poznań.
. Later, during the November Uprising
, volunteers from the Prussian partition
created the Poznań Cavalry Regiment . Close to the west wall of the St Anthony of Padua's Church is a monument of the 15th Poznań Uhlan Regiment.
as Mounted Rifleman of Poznań Guard with 2nd Lt. Kazimierz Ciążyński as first commander. The national colours white and red were adopted as the colours for the unit pennants. On 14 January 1919, 2nd Lt. Józef Lossow replaced Ciążyński as temporary commander. Soldiers took a military oath on 26 January 1919 as 1st Greater Poland Mounted Rifleman Regiment .
On 29 January 1919, the regiment one again changed its name to 1st Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment . Two days later Col. Aleksander Pajewski became commander of the regiment.
On January 1920, after unification of Grater Polands Army with rest of Polish Armed Forces, the unit was renamed to 15th Uhlans Regiment . In July 1920, the reserve squadron of 15th Reg. detached 1st Sqn. of newly created 115 Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment and 215 Grater Poland Volunteer Cavalry Regiment .
On 5 August 1920, on proposal of President of Poznań
, Jarogniew Drwęski, the regiment was renamed to 15th Poznań Uhlans Regiment . On 22 October 1927, the Poznań City Council and the regiment's officers revealed a monument of the Poznań Uhlans on Ludgarda Str. in Poznań. The statue, made by Mieczysław Lubelski and Adam Ballenstaed, shows an Uhlan as Saint George
attacking a dragon with his lance.
During the September Campaign, the regiment was part of the Greater Poland Cavalry Brigade
in frames of Poznań Army
.
as Battalion "S" .
The battalion, along with other units of the Anders Army, left the Soviet Union
and went to Iran
, Iraq
and later to the Middle East
, where on 8 October 1942 it was transformed into an armoured reconnaissance unit named 15th Armoured Cavalry Regiment . On 1 December 1943, the unit was named 15th Poznań Uhlans Regiment.
Later, as part of the II Corps (Poland), the regiment took part in the Italian Campaign (World War II)
. At the end of December 1944, the regiment was moved to the south of Italy for rest. There unit was split into the 15th Reg. and the 25th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment . The new 15th Reg. was transformed into an armoured unit and subordinated to the 14th Greater Poland Armoured Brig.. During this time, reinforcements for the regiment were trained in Egypt
. After the end of the war, the regiment was moved to United Kingdom
. After demobilization in 1947, remains of the regiment in July 1947 formed Basie Unit 340 of the Polish Resettlement Corps
at Slinfold Camp . The unit was dissolved in 1948.
In 1996 due to efforts of the Society of Former Soldiers and Friends of 15th Poznań Uhlans Regiment (est. in 1991 in Poznań) and the Wheel of Poznań Uhlans of LtGen.Władysław Anders (est. in 1946 in Italy, later in London), a newly created armoured cavalry brigade in Wędrzyn
was named 15th Greater Poland Armoured Cavalry Brigade , and its 1st Tank Battalion received the pennant colours of 15th Poznań Uhlans Reg. After the dissolution of 15th Brigade, traditions of the 15th Reg. were passed on to the armoured battalion (since 2007 mechanized infantry battalion) of 17th Greater Poland Mechanized Brigade named 15th Poznań Uhlans Battalion .
Pre-war uniforms of the 15th Regiment are used by the reenactment group Volunteer Representative Uhlans Unit of City of Poznań .
During the interbellum the regiment was dislocated to Poznań. The regiment anniversary was held on 23 April, as commemoration of Virtuti Militari
decoration in 1921.
, and on 11 January took part in fights near Szubin
. In later days the whole regiment was used as mobile reserve on different parts of Polish-German front line.
, Małe Gajany, Minsk
, Ihumen, Bochuczewicze and Babruysk
, which was captured on 28 August. Babruysk became the base of the regiment during the fights
in the Berezina River
valley and in Polesia
until May 1920. In this period, Soviet soldiers nicknamed the regiment rogate, czerwone czorty (horned, red devils), due to the red colour on their rogatywka
s. In May 1920 the regiment took part in stopping the offensive of the Soviet 16th Army, taking many soldiers from the Soviet cavalry brigade as prisoners. In June 1920, due to next Soviet offensive, the regiment was forced to retreat. During fights near Ivachnoviche, on 29 July the regiment's CO, LtCol. Władysław Anders, was wounded. As a part of the Polish counteroffensive the regiment broke through the Soviet lines on 16 August, near Maciejowice
. Later the regiment took part in the Battle of the Niemen River
. In the second half of September 1920 cavalryman took part in fights near Mezhiritch, Zelva
and Snovy. The last city captured by the regiment was Minsk, from where the unit was withdrawn after the ceasefire. On 16 January 1921, the regiment returned to Poznań under the command of Władysław Anders. For their valor during the war, all regiments of the 14th Division received Virtuti Militari
. The colours of the unit were decorated by Marsh. Józef Piłsudski on 22 April 1921.
, was near Zaniemyśl
. After the outbreak of the war, the Regiment moved to Uniejów
and Bzura River. Between 9 and 18 Deptember 1939 the regiment, located on the eastern flank of the "Poznań" Army, took part in heavy fighting near Brochów
and Walewice
as a part of the Battle of Bzura. On 12 September in Ziewanice
, the CO of regiment, LtCol. Tadeusz Mikke, was killed in action. After the battle of Bzura, the regiment formed the rear guard
during the retreat of the "Poznań" Army and remains of the "Pomorze" through Puszcza Kampinoska to Warsaw
. The regiment arrived in the Polish capital on 20 September. The regiment subsequently took part in the defence
. The unit was disbanded on the day of the city's capitulation on 28 September.
under command of Cpt. Zbigniew Kiedacz. On 8 October 1942, in Iraq, the unit was transformed into the 15 Regiment of Armoured Cavalry, reconnaissance unit of the 5th Borderlines Infantry Division
. At the end of 1942, the regiment was renamed to 15th Poznań Uhlans Regiment. In next months, the unit was trained in Iraq
, Palestine
, Liban
and Egypt
. During February and March 1944, the regiment was moved to Italy
. Uhlans took part in fighting on 6 April 1944 near Capracotta
, and during the following days reached Genoa
. Between 3 and 29 May 1944, the regiment took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino
fighting on Castellone hill, and later broke through Hitler Line
capturing Pizzo Corno and Monte Cairo. On 20 July, the unit ended its fights in the battle of Ancona
. In October 1944, the regiment was fighting in the Emilian Apennines as a part of the breaking through the Gothic Line
. On 23 October, the commanding officer of regiment, Col. Zbigniew Kiedacz, was killed in action. The regiment received the award Virtuti Militari
for a second time for the Italian Campaign. In the winter 1944 and 1945, the 25th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment was detached from the regiment. In January 1945, the 15th Reg. was moved to Egypt, where the unit, after receiving new tanks, was subordinated to the 14th Grater Polish Armoured Brig. . In October 1945, the brigade was moved to Giulianova
in Italy and in June 1946 to Browning Camp near Horsham
near London
. In 1947, the regiment was disbanded.
Polish cavalry
The Polish cavalry can trace its origins back to the days of Medieval mounted knights. Poland had always been a country of flatlands and fields and mounted forces operate well in this environment...
, part of Greater Polands Army
Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)
The Greater Poland Uprising of 1918–1919, or Wielkopolska Uprising of 1918–1919 or Posnanian War was a military insurrection of Poles in the Greater Poland region against Germany...
, Polish Army of Second Republic
Polish army order of battle in 1939
Polish OOB during the Invasion of Poland. In the late thirties Polish headquarters prepared "Plan Zachód" , a plan of mobilization of Polish Army in case of war with Germany...
and Polish Armed Forces in the West
Polish Armed Forces in the West
Polish Armed Forces in the West refers to the Polish military formations formed to fight alongside the Western Allies against Nazi Germany and its allies...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Regimental colours
The Regimental colours were founded by females from the PoznańPoznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
society Ognisko Żołnierza Polskiego. The regiment received the colours from the hands of Gen. Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki
Józef Dowbor-Musnicki
Józef Dowbor-Muśnicki was a Polish military officer and commander, serving with the Imperial Russian and then Polish armies...
in Poznań on 29 July 1919. Despite the fact that Colours were irregular to Polish Army military code, the standard was used for all the time of the regiment's existence during the interbellum. During the occupation, the standard was kept in the Visitationist Church
Visitationist Church
Church of St. Joseph of the Visitationists commonly known as the Visitationist Church is a Roman Catholic church in Warsaw, Poland, situated at Krakowskie Przedmieście 34...
in Warsaw. The nuns, after the assassination of Franz Kutschera
Franz Kutschera
Franz Kutschera was an SS General and Gauleiter of Carinthia...
, cut off the image of the Holy Mother and burned the rest of standard. The standard was reconstructed, with usage of parts of previous colours in 1960. Currently the Standard is kept in Greater Polands Military Museum in Poznań.
History and traditions
15th Uhlans Regiment was first formed as a part of the Army of the Duchy of WarsawDuchy of Warsaw
The Duchy of Warsaw was a Polish state established by Napoleon I in 1807 from the Polish lands ceded by the Kingdom of Prussia under the terms of the Treaties of Tilsit. The duchy was held in personal union by one of Napoleon's allies, King Frederick Augustus I of Saxony...
. Later, during the November Uprising
November Uprising
The November Uprising , Polish–Russian War 1830–31 also known as the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in Warsaw when the young Polish officers from the local Army of the Congress...
, volunteers from the Prussian partition
Prussian partition
The Prussian partition refers to the former territories of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth acquired during the partitions of Poland in the late 18th century by the Kingdom of Prussia.-History:...
created the Poznań Cavalry Regiment . Close to the west wall of the St Anthony of Padua's Church is a monument of the 15th Poznań Uhlan Regiment.
World War I and post-war period
Regiment of uhlans that appeals to those units was created on 30 December 1918 during the Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919)
The Greater Poland Uprising of 1918–1919, or Wielkopolska Uprising of 1918–1919 or Posnanian War was a military insurrection of Poles in the Greater Poland region against Germany...
as Mounted Rifleman of Poznań Guard with 2nd Lt. Kazimierz Ciążyński as first commander. The national colours white and red were adopted as the colours for the unit pennants. On 14 January 1919, 2nd Lt. Józef Lossow replaced Ciążyński as temporary commander. Soldiers took a military oath on 26 January 1919 as 1st Greater Poland Mounted Rifleman Regiment .
On 29 January 1919, the regiment one again changed its name to 1st Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment . Two days later Col. Aleksander Pajewski became commander of the regiment.
On January 1920, after unification of Grater Polands Army with rest of Polish Armed Forces, the unit was renamed to 15th Uhlans Regiment . In July 1920, the reserve squadron of 15th Reg. detached 1st Sqn. of newly created 115 Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment and 215 Grater Poland Volunteer Cavalry Regiment .
On 5 August 1920, on proposal of President of Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, Jarogniew Drwęski, the regiment was renamed to 15th Poznań Uhlans Regiment . On 22 October 1927, the Poznań City Council and the regiment's officers revealed a monument of the Poznań Uhlans on Ludgarda Str. in Poznań. The statue, made by Mieczysław Lubelski and Adam Ballenstaed, shows an Uhlan as Saint George
Saint George
Saint George was, according to tradition, a Roman soldier from Syria Palaestina and a priest in the Guard of Diocletian, who is venerated as a Christian martyr. In hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic , Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and the Oriental Orthodox...
attacking a dragon with his lance.
During the September Campaign, the regiment was part of the Greater Poland Cavalry Brigade
Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade
Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period. It was created on April 1, 1937 out of the Cavalry Brigade “Poznań”...
in frames of Poznań Army
Poznan Army
Army Poznań led by mj. gen. Tadeusz Kutrzeba was one of the Polish Armies during the Polish Defensive War in 1939.-Tasks:Flanked by Armia Pomorze to the north and Armia Łódź to the south, the Army was to provide flanking operations in Grand Poland region, defend it and withdraw towards lines of...
.
Western Polish Army
In 1942, the Regiment was recreated in the Anders ArmyAnders Army
The Anders Army was the informal yet common name of the Polish Armed Forces in the East in the period 1941-1942, in recognition of its commander Władysław Anders...
as Battalion "S" .
The battalion, along with other units of the Anders Army, left the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and went to Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and later to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, where on 8 October 1942 it was transformed into an armoured reconnaissance unit named 15th Armoured Cavalry Regiment . On 1 December 1943, the unit was named 15th Poznań Uhlans Regiment.
Later, as part of the II Corps (Poland), the regiment took part in the Italian Campaign (World War II)
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
. At the end of December 1944, the regiment was moved to the south of Italy for rest. There unit was split into the 15th Reg. and the 25th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment . The new 15th Reg. was transformed into an armoured unit and subordinated to the 14th Greater Poland Armoured Brig.. During this time, reinforcements for the regiment were trained in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. After the end of the war, the regiment was moved to United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. After demobilization in 1947, remains of the regiment in July 1947 formed Basie Unit 340 of the Polish Resettlement Corps
Polish Resettlement Corps
The Polish Resettlement Corps was an organisation formed by the British Government in 1946 as a holding unit for members of the Polish Armed Forces who had been serving with the British Armed Forces and did not wish to return to a Communist Poland after the end of the Second World War...
at Slinfold Camp . The unit was dissolved in 1948.
Modern regiment
Wedrzyn
Wędrzyn is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Sulęcin, within Sulęcin County, Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland. It lies approximately east of Sulęcin, south of Gorzów Wielkopolski, and north of Zielona Góra....
was named 15th Greater Poland Armoured Cavalry Brigade , and its 1st Tank Battalion received the pennant colours of 15th Poznań Uhlans Reg. After the dissolution of 15th Brigade, traditions of the 15th Reg. were passed on to the armoured battalion (since 2007 mechanized infantry battalion) of 17th Greater Poland Mechanized Brigade named 15th Poznań Uhlans Battalion .
Pre-war uniforms of the 15th Regiment are used by the reenactment group Volunteer Representative Uhlans Unit of City of Poznań .
During the interbellum the regiment was dislocated to Poznań. The regiment anniversary was held on 23 April, as commemoration of Virtuti Militari
Virtuti Militari
The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
decoration in 1921.
Greater Poland Uprising 1918-1919
During the night between 5 and 6 January 1919, a squadron of Mounted Rifleman under command of 2nd Lt. Kazimierz Ciążyński took part in the Battle of Ławica Airfield. At the night between 9 and 10 January 1919, the Squadron was moved to GnieznoGniezno
Gniezno is a city in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań, inhabited by about 70,000 people. One of the Piasts' chief cities, it was mentioned by 10th century A.D. sources as the capital of Piast Poland however the first capital of Piast realm was most likely Giecz built around...
, and on 11 January took part in fights near Szubin
Szubin
Szubin is a town in Nakło County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, located southwest of Bydgoszcz. As of 12 December 2004 it had a population of 9354.-History:...
. In later days the whole regiment was used as mobile reserve on different parts of Polish-German front line.
Polish–Soviet War
On 1 August 1919, the regiment moved to the front line as a part of 14th Greater Poland Infantry Division . The regiment campaigned through MaladzyechnaMaladzyechna
Maladzyechna , is a city in the Minsk Voblast of Belarus, an administrative centre of the Maladzyechna district . It has 98,514 inhabitants and is located 72 km northwest of Minsk. Located on the Usha River, it has been a settlement since 1388 when it was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania...
, Małe Gajany, Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, Ihumen, Bochuczewicze and Babruysk
Babruysk
Babruysk or Bobruysk is a city in the Mahilyow Voblast of Belarus on the Berezina river. It is a large city in Belarus with a population of approximately 227,000 people . The name Babruysk probably originates from the Belarusian word babyor , many of which used to inhabit the Berezina...
, which was captured on 28 August. Babruysk became the base of the regiment during the fights
Battle of Berezina (disambiguation)
Battle of Berezina may refer to one of the following events that happened by the Berezina River.*A battle between Charles XII of Sweden with Peter the Great on June 25, 1708 won by Charles.*Battle of Berezina during Napoleon's invasion of Russia....
in the Berezina River
Berezina River
The Berezina is a river in Belarus and a tributary of the Dnieper River.The Berezina Preserve by the river is in the UNESCO list of Biosphere Preserves.-Historical significance:...
valley and in Polesia
Polesia
Polesia is one of the largest European swampy areas, located in the south-western part of the Eastern-European Lowland, mainly within Belarus and Ukraine but also partly within Poland and Russia...
until May 1920. In this period, Soviet soldiers nicknamed the regiment rogate, czerwone czorty (horned, red devils), due to the red colour on their rogatywka
Rogatywka
Rogatywka is the Polish generic name for an asymmetrical, peaked, four-pointed cap used by various Polish military formations throughout the ages. It is a distant relative of its 18th century predecessor, konfederatka , although similar caps has been used by light cavalry since 14th century...
s. In May 1920 the regiment took part in stopping the offensive of the Soviet 16th Army, taking many soldiers from the Soviet cavalry brigade as prisoners. In June 1920, due to next Soviet offensive, the regiment was forced to retreat. During fights near Ivachnoviche, on 29 July the regiment's CO, LtCol. Władysław Anders, was wounded. As a part of the Polish counteroffensive the regiment broke through the Soviet lines on 16 August, near Maciejowice
Maciejowice
Maciejowice is a village in Garwolin County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Maciejowice. It lies approximately south of Garwolin and south-east of Warsaw....
. Later the regiment took part in the Battle of the Niemen River
Battle of the Niemen River
The Battle of the Niemen River was the second-greatest battle of the Polish-Soviet War. It took place near the middle Neman River between the cities of Suwałki, Grodno and Białystok...
. In the second half of September 1920 cavalryman took part in fights near Mezhiritch, Zelva
Zelva
Zelva is an urban settlement in Hrodna Voblast, Belarus, the administrative center of Zelva district. It is situated by the Zelvyanka River.-References:...
and Snovy. The last city captured by the regiment was Minsk, from where the unit was withdrawn after the ceasefire. On 16 January 1921, the regiment returned to Poznań under the command of Władysław Anders. For their valor during the war, all regiments of the 14th Division received Virtuti Militari
Virtuti Militari
The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
. The colours of the unit were decorated by Marsh. Józef Piłsudski on 22 April 1921.
September Campaign
On 1 September 1939 the regiment, as a part of the Greater Poland Cavalry BrigadeWielkopolska Cavalry Brigade
Wielkopolska Cavalry Brigade was a cavalry unit of the Polish Army in the interbellum period. It was created on April 1, 1937 out of the Cavalry Brigade “Poznań”...
, was near Zaniemyśl
Zaniemysl
Zaniemyśl is a village in Środa Wielkopolska County, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in west-central Poland. It is the seat of the gmina called Gmina Zaniemyśl. It lies approximately south-west of Środa Wielkopolska and south-east of the regional capital Poznań...
. After the outbreak of the war, the Regiment moved to Uniejów
Uniejów
Uniejów is a town in Poddębice County, Łódź Voivodeship, Poland, with 2,960 inhabitants .-External links:**...
and Bzura River. Between 9 and 18 Deptember 1939 the regiment, located on the eastern flank of the "Poznań" Army, took part in heavy fighting near Brochów
Brochów, Masovian Voivodeship
Brochów is a village in Sochaczew County, Masovian Voivodeship, east-central Poland. It is the seat of Gmina Brochów and lies some north of Sochaczew and west of Warsaw....
and Walewice
Walewice
Walewice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Bielawy, within Łowicz County, Łódź Voivodeship, in central Poland, on the Bzura River. It lies approximately west of Łowicz and north of the regional capital Łódź....
as a part of the Battle of Bzura. On 12 September in Ziewanice
Ziewanice
Ziewanice is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Głowno, within Zgierz County, Łódź Voivodeship, in central Poland. It lies approximately north of Głowno, north-east of Zgierz, and north-east of the regional capital Łódź.-References:...
, the CO of regiment, LtCol. Tadeusz Mikke, was killed in action. After the battle of Bzura, the regiment formed the rear guard
Rear guard
A rear guard or rearguard is that part of a military force that protects it from attack from the rear, either during an advance or withdrawal...
during the retreat of the "Poznań" Army and remains of the "Pomorze" through Puszcza Kampinoska to Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. The regiment arrived in the Polish capital on 20 September. The regiment subsequently took part in the defence
Siege of Warsaw (1939)
The 1939 Battle of Warsaw was fought between the Polish Warsaw Army garrisoned and entrenched in the capital of Poland and the German Army...
. The unit was disbanded on the day of the city's capitulation on 28 September.
Polish Armed Forces in the West
On 17 April 1942, Battalion "S" was formed in Yangiyo'l near TashkentTashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
under command of Cpt. Zbigniew Kiedacz. On 8 October 1942, in Iraq, the unit was transformed into the 15 Regiment of Armoured Cavalry, reconnaissance unit of the 5th Borderlines Infantry Division
5th Kresowa Infantry Division (Poland)
The Polish 5th Kresowa Infantry Division was an Polish Armed Forces in the West unit fighting during World War II in the Italian Front. It was formed in March 1943...
. At the end of 1942, the regiment was renamed to 15th Poznań Uhlans Regiment. In next months, the unit was trained in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
, Liban
Liban
Liban may refer to:*Lebanon – many Lebanese institutions use the French word Liban, a legacy of the country's colonization by France*Lí Ban, a Celtic goddess*Li Ban, a Chinese prince*Liban in Irish folklore, a mermaid...
and Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. During February and March 1944, the regiment was moved to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Uhlans took part in fighting on 6 April 1944 near Capracotta
Capracotta
Capracotta is a comune in the Province of Isernia in the Italian region Molise, located about 45 km northwest of Campobasso and about 25 km north of Isernia...
, and during the following days reached Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
. Between 3 and 29 May 1944, the regiment took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino
Battle of Monte Cassino
The Battle of Monte Cassino was a costly series of four battles during World War II, fought by the Allies against Germans and Italians with the intention of breaking through the Winter Line and seizing Rome.In the beginning of 1944, the western half of the Winter Line was being anchored by Germans...
fighting on Castellone hill, and later broke through Hitler Line
Hitler Line
The Hitler Line was a German defensive line in central Italy during the Second World War. The strong points of the line were at Aquino and Piedimonte. In May 1944, the line was re-named the Senger Line, after General von Senger und Etterlin, one of the generals commanding Axis forces in the area...
capturing Pizzo Corno and Monte Cairo. On 20 July, the unit ended its fights in the battle of Ancona
Battle of Ancona
The Battle of Ancona was a battle involving forces from Poland serving as part of the British Army and German forces that took place from 16 June–18 July 1944 during the Italian campaign in World War II...
. In October 1944, the regiment was fighting in the Emilian Apennines as a part of the breaking through the Gothic Line
Gothic Line
The Gothic Line formed Field Marshal Albert Kesselring's last major line of defence in the final stages of World War II along the summits of the Apennines during the fighting retreat of German forces in Italy against the Allied Armies in Italy commanded by General Sir Harold Alexander.Adolf Hitler...
. On 23 October, the commanding officer of regiment, Col. Zbigniew Kiedacz, was killed in action. The regiment received the award Virtuti Militari
Virtuti Militari
The Order Wojenny Virtuti Militari is Poland's highest military decoration for heroism and courage in the face of the enemy at war...
for a second time for the Italian Campaign. In the winter 1944 and 1945, the 25th Greater Poland Uhlan Regiment was detached from the regiment. In January 1945, the 15th Reg. was moved to Egypt, where the unit, after receiving new tanks, was subordinated to the 14th Grater Polish Armoured Brig. . In October 1945, the brigade was moved to Giulianova
Giulianova
Giulianova is a coastal town and comune in the province of Teramo of central Italy.-Geography:The town lies in the north of the Abruzzo region, between the Salinello and the Tordino rivers. Giulianova is split between the Paese, the historic town up in the hills, and the lido, the more recent...
in Italy and in June 1946 to Browning Camp near Horsham
Horsham
Horsham is a market town with a population of 55,657 on the upper reaches of the River Arun in the centre of the Weald, West Sussex, in the historic County of Sussex, England. The town is south south-west of London, north-west of Brighton and north-east of the county town of Chichester...
near London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 1947, the regiment was disbanded.
Commanders
- 2nd Lt. Kazimierz Ciążyński (30 December 1918 to 14 January 1919)
- 2nd Lt. Józef Lossow (14 to 29 January 1919)
- LtCol. Aleksander Pajewski (31 January 1919 to 23 April 1919)
- LtCol. Władysław Anders (23 April 1919 to end of September 1921)
- Col. Gwido Poten (September 1921 to 5 June 1924)
- Col. Stanisław Grzmot-Skotnicki (5 June 1924 to 11 August 1927)
- Col. Rudolf Dreszer (15 August 1927 - October 1931)
- vacat
- LtCol. Konrad Zembrzuski (30 March 1932 - 3 June 1938)
- LtCol. Tadeusz Mikke (3 June 1938 - 12 September 1939, KIA)
- Maj. Kazimierz Chłapowski (12 September 1939 - 28 September 1939)
- LtCol. Zbigniew Kiedacz (9 April 1942 to 23 October 1944, KIA)
- vacat
- LtCol. Adam Bieliński (4 November 1944 till disbanding in 1947)
Others notable uhlans
| The modern day soldiers of 1st Tank Btn. of the 15th Greater Poland Armoured Brig. with Colours, bunchuk Bunchuk A Bunchuk is a piece of horse or yak tail hair attached to the top of a pole, which is decorated with a trident, a ball or a crescent.... and pennant of 15th Reg. | |
- Lt. Witold Dzierżykraj-MorawskiWitold Dzierzykraj-MorawskiWitold Dzierżykraj-Morawski was a Polish military commander, diplomat and a Colonel of the Polish Army.Witold Dzierżykraj-Morawski was born in 1895 in his family's manor in Oporów near Krummensee, Province of Posen, German Empire. At the age of 15 he inherited the manor and the surrounding village...